The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-05-05
THURSDAY. MAY S, 1887.
CORPORATIONS AND THE
GOVERNMENT.

While SO much is said of the evils
from which this community is suffering
under the present disagreement,
much complaint is made Of the ini-
quitous subsection Of the intelligence
and enterprise OF the community to an
ignorant and vicious ruling class. Yet
few Of those who are SO ready to de-
nounce the misrule that interferes with
their plans and prospects for larger
means and higher position for them
selves and their families, take the trou-
bic to find remedy for the present
political complications by intelligent
investigation Of the causes which have
led to this deplorable condition Of soci-
ETY. and business. We have no mass
meetings, nor any political organiza-
tons, which call us together to con
slider facts and discuss measures of
public concern. Our newspaper press
is not muzzled. Their broadsideS are
open for the declaration and discussion
Of the principles and methods, by
which deliverance may be sought and
wrought out For in representative
and constitutional government, il is not
by plots or counterplots OF secret cabals
and cliques, but by open and wisely
conducted discussion that we may
hope TO arrive at some reasonable, suit
able, effective and acceptable solution
Of our present social and political per
plexities.
Under responsible constitutional
government the right of suffrage gives
the leverage, which forms the basis OF
political control. But in this country
this right of suffrage Is in the hands Of
an ignorant and dependent voting
population. Their habits and modes
Of life put them under the control Of
few designing leaders. 1t would be
an Augean task to purify and enlighten
this mass Of folly and superstition
Very few intelligent men would think
Of making the attempt, as either hope
full in the undertaking or satisfactory in
the result. For the element of greatest
difficulty on the problem before us is
that the present constitution and pres
ent methods Of legislation put and
keep political control where changed
conditions OF lie make it unreasonable
and dangerous to do so.
The present form OF government die
not originate with the Hawaiian people
1t was free gift to them from an auto
cratic ruler, following the advice O
trusted counselIors. The object was Z
noble one, worthy of highest praise. Il
was the highest good of the com
munity; but this is to be attained, az
the experience Of the centuries o
human history has shown, only by
practical equality of political rights
Another we'll established fact of poll
teal science is that it is ownership o
the land that gives social influence anc
political control. The land, in these
islands. was distributed freely by Ka
mehameha III. to all who could pre-
sent suitable claim. But many of the
old chiefs sought to maintain their ole
control by securing to themselves thu
legal title to the peoples lands. Many
Of the Hawaiians, with easy indifer
ence, allowed this to be done. AS
consequence, they settled back int
serfdom and its concomitant social anC
political degradation. But the ole
chiefs have passed away, and the ole
style of cbiefish rule. In their place
as owners of land in large blocks, We
have great corporations, controlling, al
is needful for the prosecution of on
chief industry large resources.
But we have also this curious an
omaly. While in the United States
the danger and dread is that monie'
corporations, the creation Of Legislation